I can still remember when and why I downloaded the Line WebToon app on my then dingy phone. It was late 2018, I had my professional exams, and I was so beyond stressed. Everything seemed so dark and bleak, nothing distracted me. Until I saw an advert for Lore Olympus on Facebook, of all places. A webcomic about Greek Gods but modernized? Sign me up!

I’ve always been such a huge fan of mythology, so Lore Olympus was right up my alley. Especially considering that it covers one of my favorite legends of all time, the Taking Of Persephone. I’m such a sucker for the Goth King x Precious Sunshine couple tropes, so you know I was going to be extremely invested in this.

Lore Olympus is arguably the biggest webtoon on the app right now, with a whopping 1 Billion views and a 9.71 rating. Obviously, in true webtoon fashion, it is a romance which explains the 5.8 Million subscribers it has amassed. Its creator, Rachel Smythe from New Zealand, has won multiple awards for it, including an Eisner and a Harvey. Those are some serious credits for what is basically a retelling of an old Greek mythos.

It has been over 5 years and Lore Olympus is still going strong, with a strongly received 2^nd season currently ongoing. But what has made it last so long and still keep its fans around? Is the hype justified? Well, let’s see if it is worth the read!

Lore Olympus: A Tale (Literally) As Old As Time

Hades has always minded his own business. After the overthrowing of Kronos, he’s been a good and just ruler of the Underworld, overseeing the captured Titans. While his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, ruled the Heavens and Seas. And these domains aren’t primitive anymore, thanks to the tech developed in the Underworld.

But because he’s so busy, Hades doesn’t have the time for philandering like his brothers. He’s shy and introverted, barely attending any of the lavish parties thrown on Mount Olympus. Until one day, Zeus forces him to. And he swiftly comes across the love of his life.

Sweet Kore has lived sheltered all her life. But now, as part of The Goddesses Of Eternal Maidenhood, she finally convinced her overprotective mother, Demeter, to let her go study on Olympus through the prestigious T.G.O.E.M. scholarship. And when The Goddess Of Spring gets swept away with her bestie, Artemis, to a prestigious party, she ends up encountering the man that’ll change her life forever.

But nothing in life is ever so easy, even if you’re a God. Especially when it comes to love. So, this is the tale of how King Aidoneus, theGod Of The Dead, eventually finds his fated queen, Persephone, the Goddess of Life.

Sensitive Subject Matter, Beautifully Executed

There is a reason why Lore Olympus is the most popular webtoon of all time. It isn’t your typical romance, with gushy feelings and neatly wrapped bow ties on complicated plotlines. The characters are so beautifully fleshed out, easy to love and hate. The Gods of Olympus look after mortals, but they are very humane themselves. With issues like anger, wrath, and greed that are just being heightened by the fantastical elements present.

Even our main leads, Hades and Kore, are unique when it comes to couples. There has never been a ‘will-they-won’t-they’ moment between them. They truly care about each other so unconditionally, adapting to make each other feel at their most comfortable. It is heartwarming to see how loyal Hades is towards Kore, without ever pushing his love on Kore or forcing her to accept something she doesn’t want.

And Kore has gone through enough trauma of her own to know that Hades isn’t some cold-hearted rock. He is sweet to her, without ever asking for more. She appreciates him for pushing her out of her head, for reaching out and quelling her self-doubts with kindness.

And I adore it when relationships are shown as realistic without diving into toxicity. Like, yes, a relationship where you can be open and communicate easily should be normalized!

There are trigger warnings for this webtoon that should be paid heed to. Which include sexual assault, domestic violence, and gaslighting. But not once are those things romanticized, which is a feat for a webcomic to be nuanced about. They aren’t added for the shock factor. Lore Olympus treads gently with them while keeping its gorgeous artwork intact.

There are some pacing issues in the middle, but that is something I’ve come to expect with long-running webtoons in general.

Is Lore Olympus Worth It?

I talk about a lot of webtoons on this platform, but Lore Olympus was the one that made me fall in love with the entire medium in the first place. In the end, we already know how the tale ends. This is why it speaks volumes about its ability to keep fans interested in coming back.

With a love story that is so gentle while being powerful at the same time and characters that are never black-or-white, it’s a brilliant piece of storytelling. I’d recommend Lore Olympus to anyone, geek or otherwise.